Interviews

Nehru Place Bachao Andolan: An Initiative to ‘Purify’ the IT Hub

(PCAIT
Saket Kapoor
Secretary, Progressive Channels Association of Information Technology (PCAIT)

Delhi’s Nehru Place, famous for its IT hub, attracts a large number of customers not only from in-and-around Delhi, but also from the other Indian states. This place also has a greater role in supporting the economy of Delhi.

However, this prestigious and popular market place has become the symbol of negligence. The Nehru Place IT hub is strangulated by unauthorised and unregulated street vendors. The place is also facing lots of problems relating to parking, disposal of waste, unavailability of toilet facilities, lack of security, among others.

Though shop owners, genuine customers, dealers and visitors, various associations have expressed their annoyance previously to the concerned authorities regarding these problems, the authorities didn’t take any initiative to solve these problems. Now, various associations operating in Nehru Place have started an initiative to protect it from terrorist attacks, unauthorised dealers and hawkers, parking woes and unhygienic conditions.

Under the leadership of Progressive Channels Association of Information Technology (PCAIT), five associations have joined hands to protect the Nehru Place IT hub from both external and internal problems.

According to Saket Kapoor, Secretary, Progressive Channels Association of Information Technology (PCAIT), “Under Nehru Place Bachao Andolan Movement, we have launched a signature campaign aimed at expelling unauthorised street vendors, who are selling pirated software and cheap quality products. Nehru Place is under the radar of terrorism and an attack can be expected from terrorist groups at any time. Considering the securities arranging in this place, an attack is very easy for the terrorists.

“There are no facilities for sanitation, proper disposal of wastage and parking of vehicles. With an objective to find a solution for all these problems, we are going to approach the government after completing our signature campaign. We started this one week campaign on 7th January. The other associations participating in the Nehru Place Bachao Andolan are Nehru Place Improved Welfare Association, All Computer Dealers Association, Computer Media Dealers Association, and Export Fabric Association.”

Problems like congestion and the possibility of a stampede stares the Nehru Place IT hub in the face.

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